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ConsumerLab.com Answers

Coffee Beans Contaminated with Mold

Question:Is it true that most coffee is contaminated with mold?

Answer: Coffee beans, like many other agricultural crops and foods (oats, corn, peanuts, rice, wheat, cocoa, grapes etc.) are susceptible to contamination with mold. While some molds are harmless, others can produce substances called mycotoxins, such as ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1, which can be harmful. However, amounts of molds found in roasted and brewed coffees do not appear to pose a health risk. In fact, you may be exposed to more of these mycotoxins from eating other common foods. See the full answer >>

If you are speaking of a machine similar to a Keurig, I add 2 drops of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide. I calculated this amount to produce a final concentration between 100-300ppm which is safe to drink (also much of it is destroyed in heating). This prevents algae formation in the reservoir and hoses.